Golfweek Open at Irish Creek
A great weekend with some exceptional golf accross all flights. 108 golfers accross 5 flights competed on this weekend. We dodged the storm on Saturday and had a pleasant Sunday to complete the 36 hole competition. On top of the great golf, the Charlotte Tour raised over $2000 for our charity of choice, Stand Up to Cancer.
In the Championship Flight, it was a battle of heavyweights and 36 holes just was not enough. Joe Jaspers who shot 5 under on day 1 was caught on day 2 by our reigning 2016 national champion and current flight leader, Jay Barnes. Both Jaspers and Barnes finished the 36 holes at 7 under par 135. To settle things, they went back to the course and it only took one hole for Jaspers to claim the title with a long putt on the 1st playoff hole. With the victory, Joe claims his entry to the 2017 National Championship in Hilton head later this year. Jim Aughtry claimed 3rd place when he won the 1st playoff tiebreaker (Second round score) over John Heffernan. Don't feel too bad for John as he won a flight and super skin on both days of the tournament for a total of $630.
In the A flight, it was AJ Jackson who came from behind to claim the victory in another 1 hole playoff over John Ervin. Both players shot + 8 150 over the two days. John was the round 1 leader and birdied 4 consecutive holes after opening with a 3 putt bogie on his first hole. (I guess he was a little pissed). AJ played in the group in front of the leaders and played great all day. His up and down from short of the green on his 36th hole proved to be pivotal as this got him into the playoff with John. On the first hole, AJ knocked it close and tapped in his birdie for the win and his paid entry to the National Championship later this year. In 3rd place, Birmingham member, Mike Miller who got off to a shaky start, but the putter came alive with Birdies on 16, 17 and 1 to get within 1 shot of Ervin. He narrowly missed birdie on number 2 and had to settle for the 3rd place honors. The final paying spot went to Jason Breedlove who won the tiebreaker over Nathan Arnold. Both players shot + 10 (152) over two days.
In the B Flight, it was Richard Boone who came from way back to gain the victory and claim his paid entry to Hilton Head. Richard shot 81-74 (155) to claim a 2 shot victory over Jason Benguche who shot 2 great and consistent rounds 79-78 (157). In 3rd place it was Jeff Rosier from the Myrtle Beach-Wilmington Tour who finished with a 2 day total of 159. 4th and 5th had to be decided by the Tie-Breaker method and it was Kirk Tatge who edged Nolan Elenz on the 2nd day. Both players shot two day totals of 160.
In the C Flight, it was Scott Cain who punched his ticket to Hilton Head with a 3 shot victory shooting two consistent rounds 82 & 81 for a 2 day total of 163. Michael Guarino came from 4th after day 1 to claim second winning the Tie Breaker over John Andersen. both players shooting 2 day totals of 166. Rounding out the top 4 was Dirk Krause who shot 168 over the 2 days.
In the D flight, once again, 36 holes was not enough as Derek Kemp and Keith Gibson who went back to the course to settle the title. Again, it only took one hole with Derek punching his ticket to Hilton Head with the victory. Both players tied at 183 after 36 holes. Rounding out the top 3 was Vince Johnson who narrowly missed out on the playoff excitement shooting 184 over the two days.
Again, I want to thank everyone who came out this weekend and supported the tour as well as our fund raising efforts for Stand Up to Cancer.
Our next local event will be Firethorne on August 5th over month away. Stay tuned for some upcoming announcements regarding the 2nd half of the Charlotte season. If you are not heading down to Kiawah for the Southern regional, please take a look at the other tours around the country if you want to keep playing.
Phil